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Free Days Out around Connaught

Country LifeThe National Museum of Ireland – 'Country Life' is an ideal place for a family visit with plenty to see and do. As well as the Museum galleries and 19th Century house, the extensive grounds of Turlough Park feature gardens, woodland walks, a river and lake all overlooked by an ancient Round Tower. When walking around the gallery as a family, a visit to the Audio Visual theatre offers background information on the Museum, Folklife collection and the traditional way of life in the past. The film is approximately 20 minutes long and is suitable for all ages. There is even a box of traditional yard and street games with rules and instructions. w: www.museum.ie Turlough Park, Castlebar, Mayo

Coole ParkCoole Park, now a nature reserve, was once the home of Lady Gregory, dramatist, folklorist and co-founder of the Abbey Theatre with William Butler Yeats and Edward Martyn. Yeats, Shaw, Synge, and O'Casey among others all came to experience its magic; their initials are carved on the Autograph Tree. The Seven Woods celebrated by Yeats are part of a nature trail taking in woods, river, turlough, bare limestone and Coole lake.
Attractions include a Visitor Centre with multi-media presentations and tea-rooms, all fully accessible for visitors with disabilities. w: www.coolepark.ie Coole Park, Gort, Galway (Phone: 091 631804) Times: Park is open all year round.

Derroura Mountain Bike TrailDerroura Mountain Bike Trail Network, over 16 kms in length, lies at the gateway to Connemara. The trails here will offer you massive views north into the Maam valley and westwards to the Twelve Pins. Derroura offers you some incredible mountain biking in some of the most spectacular scenery in Connemara. You will face long climbs and thrilling descents with great views overlooking the entire of Lough Corrib from the halfway point of the trails. w: www.coillteoutdoors.ie Near Oughterard Galway

Slish Wood, SligoRunning alongside the shore of Lough Gill, Slish Wood is one of Sligo's hidden forest gems. The family attraction here is a lovely lake shore and hillside walk, with tracks all the way suited to young and old. Kids will also enjoy spotting the wild fowl out on the lake. Badger, fox and fallow deer are common, and as this was once an extensive Oak Wood, some of the oak trees scattered about are up to 250-yearsold. Picnic Tables can be found in the park aswell.
How do I get there?
Take N4 FROM Sligo At 4km South of Sligo take the R287 to Ballintogher. The site is approx 5km on this road. w: www.coillteoutdoors.ie Sligo Town

Ballycroy National ParkBallycroy National Park is Ireland’s sixth National Park and is located on the Western seaboard in northwest Mayo. It comprises of 11,000 hectares of Atlantic blanket bog and mountainous terrain, covering a vast uninhabited and unspoilt wilderness dominated by the Nephin Beg mountain range. Visitor Attractions to Ballycroy National Park include the Visitor Centre, which houses an exhibition about the National Park and a short self-guiding nature trail is accessible from here, which takes in views of the Nephin Beg Mountain Range to the east and Achill Island to the west. w: www.ballycroynationalpark.ie Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre, Ballycroy Village, Mayo (Phone: 098 49888) Times: March - October: Daily 10.00 - 17.30